Argues that preservation and collection development can be effectively coordinated only when the underlying political forces driving these two operations are defined and compared. The discussion explores some of the functions and values of preservation and collection development from a primarily political point of view in three contexts:…

Reviews GIS (geographic information systems) English-language resources, including principal periodicals and conference proceedings. Details considerations for training library users and staff in the use of GIS. Emphasizes the importance of thorough staffing and training, and suggests directions libraries may take in this area. (Contains 63…

This document reports the work and conclusions of a task force appointed to plan for the reorganization of collection development at Steely Library, a primarily undergraduate library with 13 professional librarians on its staff located at Northern Kentucky University (NKU). Task force activities included a thorough review of the relevant…

Argues that the internal organization of collection development and the nature of science and scholarship lead to inevitable gaps in collection development. The structural and intellectual causes of collection development gaps are analyzed, and a number of areas whose literatures are especially vulnerable to being ignored or overlooked by…

Womens' studies librarians' view that women should be represented at the center of library collections and services generates conflict in the United States academic library. An examination of the development of a women's studies research library in the Rutgers University Libraries System between 1970 and the mid-1990s reveals the bibliographic and…

Surveys the history of Indian immigration to the United States and the development of Indian collections in academic, public, and special libraries. Library services to Indian populations are discussed, with descriptions of specific collections, and suggestions are given to improve services and collections. (SLD)

Identifies the types of individuals engaged in financial activities with whom an acquisitions librarian at a university library may need to interact. Discusses why financial relationships with these individuals are important to acquisitions librarians and how these relationships can be established and enhanced. (JMV)

Argues that collection development systems need to exert greater control over scholarly and educational information if the systems are to adapt to changing technical and economic conditions. Steps toward increased control should include categorization of sources and access by function, ongoing definition of a title-specific core, and the…

Even though endorsements of written collection development policies abound in the professional literature, many academic libraries do not have them in place. Interviews with several Louisiana librarians reveal possible reasons for that disparity. Instead of spending time devising policies that quickly become inflexible and outdated, bibliographers…

Examines the role of the collection development leader in today's academic library and provides a framework for leadership utilizing the concepts of shared vision and mission, teaching and learning, and stewardship. Content management leadership requires that leaders be exceptional listeners and subject to the same need to continually learn.…

This report reviews machine-readable information storage technology as of fall 1985, describes its use at certain academic libraries, and makes recommendations for its implementation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Focus is on data disks (reference and research materials) rather than on program disks, and suggestions are made…

This document describes a collection assessment made of the Economics and Finance holdings at Ward Edwards Library at Central Missouri State University (CMSU). The assessment is divided into three parts: (1) books, (2) serials, and (3) standing orders/reference materials. In addition to standard collection development sources such as…

Describes the value of defunct newspaper morgues, with a focus on the E. H. Butler Library at Buffalo State University (New York), and provides the historical background of two Buffalo newspapers. Discusses challenges facing the special collections librarian: storage facilities, requests for information by patrons from all over the world,…

The university and its library are signs of advancement, yet they can also project an alien, elitist, and forbidden goal to minorities. Libraries should insure that collection policies reflect minority presence. Increasing staff diversity and developing the potential for minorities to excel within this key traditional symbol of the university…

Addresses the process of journal deselection from the point of view of justice and argues that when journal cuts are necessary, libraries should first, reduce all departments to core holdings; second, ask departments with expensive journals for permission to implement an efficiency principle; third, if refused permission, implement an equal…